WEST TEXAS TANGO

The West Texas Tango gang originated in 1978 at the Ferguson state prison in Midway, Texas. The WT began recruiting Hispanic west Texas offenders from Lubbock, Amarillo and its surrounding areas who refused to join the states established prison gangs. The gang remained unorganized during its primary years but created a gang constitution after merging with the Tango Blast Federation. The WT is currently involved in extortion and drug dealing behind prison walls and is growing rapidly. The gang is not a blood in blood out organization, nor has it yet been classified as a Security Threat Group. The gang tends to be more focused in making money than controlling territory.

WEST TEXAS TANGO CLASH WITH TRADITIONAL PRISON GANGS
In 1997, the West Texas Tango gang attempted to declare it’s self a prison gang by renaming the gang the “West Texas Carnales”. The idea never flourished after the violent Barrio Azteca prison gang began attacking members of the West Texas Carnales. Out numbered, the West Texas gang abandons the proposal and instead merged with the Tango Blast Federation for protection in 2004.

WEST TEXAS GANG POSES A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFTEY
Law enforcement officials in west Texas have begun monitoring the prison gang and claim that the gang poses a threat to public safety. West Texas Tango members account for about 20 percent of drug trafficking and violent crime arrests through out the west Texas region.

WEST TEXAS TANGO CHRONOLOGIES OF EVENTS
In 1978, the West Texas gang is formed in the Texas Department of Corrections. (Gang Intelligence 101)

On June 18, 2006, West Texas prison gang members murder Adrian Ramirez Garza at a West Odessa party. (Associated Press)

On December 2008, ten members of the West Texas Tango gang are arrested in a major cocaine and meth trafficking ring. (U.S. Department of Justice Press Release)